Electronic Arts has put in an aggressive bid to buyout Grand Theft Auto publisher, Take-Two, offering a whopping USD 2 billion dollars. According to Gamesindustry.biz the offer is 63% higher than what Take-Two's premium closed out at over the previous 30 days suggesting EA really want the buyout to occur. Take-Two, however, have turned down the offer despite being in bad financial shape. In response to the refusal, EA are keeping the bid open and have personally contacted Take-Two's shareholders to make them aware of the enormous figure they are offering, with EA CEO John Riccitiello stating; "Our all-cash proposal is a unique opportunity for Take-Two shareholders to realise immediate value at a substantial premium, while creating long-term value for EA shareholders." He also suggested the development branches of Take-Two would benefit from EA's rich resources and said the forthcoming release of GTA IV would also strongly benefit from a buyout.

According to the Gamesindustry.biz article, a conference call for further talks of the offer will occur on Monday the 25th in the US (so we'll know more tomorrow), but if this bid is finally accepted it could be one of the biggest moves from EA in the wake of key rival Activision teaming up with Blizzard and Vivendi Games. Here's hoping nothing changes for key 2K and Rockstar franchises such as BioShock, GTA, Midnight Club and Mafia at the hands of the mammoth EA if this thing happens.

I wonder if the decline will cause shareholders to try and sue them - that is apparently what is happening with Yahoo now due to their turning-down of the MS proposal.

Beside GTA, do take 2 _really_ own any franchises that most gamers care about the integrity of?

Bioshock I guess, but EA owns the System Shock rights anyway. Could they really do much damage to the name?

Midnight Club and Mafia? Not sure they ever had that much fan-love to begin with. What I'm saying I guess is that while 2K/Rockstar have put out some decent games, there's really not much there that we (gamers) have to worry about being EA'afied.

Except perhaps Duke Nukem Forever OLOLOLOL

I think 2K has a reputation of putting out a few really great games, where as EA has the reputation of putting out a great number of really average ones.

they've got world poker tour too, which is pretty big bucks

nF knows...

I'm surprised EA has that much money after every stupid sport game they release every year. Still, as NF said its quality over quantity.

I'm surprised EA has that much money after every stupid sport game they release every year. Still, as NF said its quality over quantity.

I'm surprised that you don't know most of those games are mostly additional features with maybe some texture upgrades.... it's not even a new game hence the cost is minimal as s*** and the profit is massive.

That been said... yay now we get buggy GTAs if the take over does happen.

ea should stick with sport games imo. nfl,golf,soccer etc.

I'm surprised EA has that much money after every stupid sport game they release every year. Still, as NF said its quality over quantity.

Thats probably WHY they have so much money. Every year when the next iteration of Madden comes out, it shoots straight to number 1.

2K are guilty in the sports game department too, 2K Sports titles have been just as hit and miss as EA Sports iterations. I guess a buyout would mean the end of the 2K Sports line, or an assimilation into the EA Sports fold.